DX LISTENING DIGEST 1-052, April 13, 2001
edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com
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VOA COMMUNICATIONS WORLD:
Once again this week, we are providing the Media News segment,
starting UT April 14 at 0132; for complete schedule see
http://www.trsc.com/cw (gh)
** ARMENIA. Frequency change. April 11. Voice of Armenia now on 9960
with French at 1900 (Silvain Domen, Belgium, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ex-
9965; presumably the same for English; would that be 1940? (gh, DXLD)
** AUSTRIA. ORF to NAm in English at 0130 on 9870 gets splashed by
unID Arabic on 9865 (Bob Thomas, CT, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
Only thing that fits in HFCC A-01 is Morocco:
9865 0100 0400 39,40 MOR 250 75 1234567 250301 271001 D MRC IBB IBB
(via gh, DXLD)
** BELARUS`. 7210, R. Belarus` International, April 8 0159-0222.
Interval signal, confirmed by comparison to Al Quaglieri`s great
collection at http://www.albany.net/~alcue/ (thanks, Al). 0200 Start
of English language transmission. Talk by man. Not certain of content
due to poor signal. 0215 Slow traditional music. 0219 Talk by man
with frequent mention of Belarus`. Poor signal (SINPO 23222) and
relatively low audio. No parallels noted. This is my first log of
them in many years (Jim Evans, TN, Cumbre DX via DXLD)
** CAMBODIA [non]. CLANDESTINE from TAIWAN to CAMBODIA: 15455, Voice
of Justice. A carrier was opened Sat April 7 at 0934 on 15455, and
strange enough, I heard at around 0957 AWR signing on for V of Hope
in Chinese, which is supposed to be on 15450! This momentary chaos
ended up at 1001 with a female voice abruptly giving ID and reading a
schedule in presumably Khmer with a clear mention of Samleng
Yuttethoa. That was followed by 2 male voices in succession, whereby
the latter was apparently a short speech. At 1007 a folk song by a
female voice then at 1012 a long talk by female voice till 1048*
where every thing was washed out from the band including the carrier,
SINPO/44444. I later checked 15450 to find about V of Hope; it was
still operating in Mandarin till signing off at around 1100 with
SINPO/44444 (Mahmud Fathi, Philippines, Cumbre DX via DXLD)
** CANADA. I hear [CHNX] the 50 watt with dipole of 50 feet, on 6130,
way in background, but with discernible audio behind VOA English at
0030 (Bob Thomas, CT, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHINA [non]. CRI`s English at 2300 on 5990 via Cuba still exists,
as reconfirmed April 12 at 2330; not bad reception, either. Missing
from BBCM schedule (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** COLOMBIA. April 12 at 0523 found some kind of religious dialog in
Spanish with jazzy background music on 11950 -– actually measured
about 11949.44, so that rang a bell as the off-frequency 5975
station, often hetting BBC earlier in the evening. Sure enough, also
heard \\ 5974.72 or so. Signal strength of the two was roughly equal,
unusual for a fundamental/harmonic pair. 0527 hymn of praise, 0535
distorted announcement, 0536 timecheck for 12:36 de la madrugada,
`...victoria a dios``. No ID heard, but this would be R. Auténtica,
Villavicencio, which I see LA-DX last reported on the other side of
5975. I recall years ago this transmitter was also heard on 3rd and
4th harmonics, maybe 5th too? So check around 17925, 23900, 29875
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CONGO DR. Rebel radios undergo review | Excerpt from report by
Congolese rebel-controlled radio from Goma on 13 April
Goma: The radio stations of the RTNC [Congolese National Radio and
Television] in RCD [Congolese Rally for Democracy] liberated
territory have been undergoing an evaluation test since Tuesday 10
April. The launch of the test was undertaken by Prof Kin Kiey
Mulumba, head of the Communication and Culture Department. On the
second day, Thursday 12 April, participants in the session appointed
their office bearers, namely the RTNC coordinator as president, the
director of Nord-Kivu RTNC as vice-president, and the secretariat,
made up of the deputy administration manager and head of the
department of research and magazine from the Nord-Kivu RTNC. At
yesterday's meeting the participants listened to a six-monthly report
on activities by the deputy manager in charge of the audiovisual
[department] and [word indistinct]. The report will be approved this
Friday, 13 April at 1300 [local time] and thereafter there will be an
evaluation of the activities of the commercial and technical
subdivisions... Source: RTNC radio, Goma, in French 0500 gmt 13 Apr
01 (via BBCM via DXLD)
** CUBA. RADIO HABANA CUBA. Amigos míos: Estoy estudiando la
posibilidad de abrir una nueva frecuencia hacia España en la banda de
13 MHz; me hace falta que la exploren en el horario entre 20:00 y
23:00 UTC. Me interesa fundamentalmente la 13715; cualquier otra
implicaría un largo proceso de declaración de frecuencia a la UIT.
Muchas gracias por adelantado. Enrique Romeu eromeu@rhc.cu Director
Técnico RADIO HABANA CUBA (via Noticias DX April 13 via DXLD)
** FRANCE [non]. A French-language story from the Panafrican News
Agency says authorities in Mauritania have withdrawn the
accreditation of Mohamed Lemine Ould Bah, the Radio France
Internationale correspondent in Mauritania. Officials in Nouakchott
censured the RFI correspondent for having insinuated that the
Mauritanian government paid bribes to the Senegalese government for a
rapprochement between the two countries during an April 4 broadcast
(Mike Cooper, GA, April 11, via DXLD)
** GABON. 19160, Africa No. 1; 1802-1843+, 11-Apr; African nx
features w/remotes to "Africa bon soir" @1814 then sports. ID as
"Radio Africaine" & "Africa #1" @1830. All in FF. SIO=3+54-. This is
2 x 9580. ANO lists 9580 at other times but nothing hrd there.
Nothing on 3 x 9580=28740. //15475, SIO=534/rumble QRM (Harold
Frodge, MI, WORLD OF RADIO 1076, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Subject: Radio Voyager - The
Global Convergence of Web, Streaming and Broadcast Radio
DX Information from the British DX Club (BDXC-UK).
A great station on WorldSpace and the web, from:
http://www.radiovoyager.com/1over/1over.htm
The Radio Voyager Network (RVN) is a 24-hour a day, seven-day a week
(24/7) audio service that converges Internet webcasting with
traditional radio for global listener reach. The English-language
service is currently heard via a network of websites and radio
outlets on three continents. The service connects listeners around
the world and provides a unique multi-media advertising vehicle for
multi-national Fortune 500 corporations.
Radio Voyager is the core business of Finger Lakes Productions
International (FLPI), a media company with 13 years of radio
syndication and feature production experience.
RVN combines contemporary music with live radio news within each
program hour and is tied together by announcers who engage their
worldwide audience through promotions and listener participation.
Importantly, eight to twelve minutes of Radio Voyager programming can
be customized every hour for each specific web or broadcast outlet
affiliated with the network.
Radio Voyager reaches its audience by streaming via the Internet,
through a growing network of FM radio stations in the U.S., Europe,
and through direct satellite coverage to consumers throughout Africa
and portions of India. Satellite coverage to radio stations in the
Pacific Rim has been secured and is scheduled to go live in the
fourth quarter of 2000. Radio Voyager remains the only commercial
24/7 English-language radio service to broadcast throughout Europe
and Africa and is in line to become the first commercial 24/7
English-language radio network to cover the Pacific Rim and all of
India.
Radio Voyager began streaming from several of Ralston Purina websites
in 2000. "The Purina Radio Voyager Network" provides the millions of
monthly visitors to Purina sites a "real time" media option (that
includes the music, announcers and news) that is customized eight
minutes each hour for pet enthusiasts. This Purina model is designed
to build "stickiness" to their corporate sites while providing the
company a media vehicle to promote its brands worldwide. RVN`s custom
streaming service provides a solution for corporations contending to
establish and to enhance their global branding during this quickly
evolving digital age.
RVN is the first digital streaming service to offer hourly audio
customization to corporate websites and plans to build on the Purina
model by securing sponsorships with other multinational corporations
in multiple category sectors (i.e., automobile, travel, health,
fashion, etc.). As part of its RVN agreement, Purina (and future
sponsors) will receive a schedule of RVN network commercial spots
that will be heard by listeners each day via all RVN affiliated
streaming and broadcast outlets. This cross promotion via non-
competing web sites and the growing number of FM stations provides
mutual and exponential outreach benefits to the RVN family of
corporate sponsors.
RVN webcasts and broadcasts from a state-of-the-art, all digital
studio in Silver Spring, Maryland, and has European marketing offices
in Milan and London. RVN programming is distributed via the Satcom C5
satellite in the United States, over the EutelSat Hotbird II
satellite in Europe and via the Worldspace AfriStar satellite in
Africa. RVN is and will be distributed via a broadband digital signal
to corporate sponsor websites, digital portals and the
http://radiovoyager.com site. RVN is well positioned to take
advantage of new digital distribution channels as they emerge.
Radio Voyager targets an English-speaking demographic of 18-49 year
olds at a time when English proficiency is expanding throughout the
world as the language of global business and the Internet. Radio
Voyager is capturing this audience -- which includes consumers who
speak English as a second or primary language, Americans living
abroad and tourists -- through its multiple streaming and radio
platforms. Radio Voyager, however, is the first and only English-
language commercial streaming and radio service available on the
planet that integrates network and customized content and operates 24
hours a day, 7 days a week (via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK April 13 via
DXLD)
This is the successor to VOA-Europe. I have never listened to it, but
from this it seems extremely commercialized, so why should I? This
puff says hardly anything about its *programming* (gh, DXLD)
** ITALY/USA. [see also VATICAN/ITALY]
Minister wants action against "NATO radio" in Naples | Text of report
by Italian TV teletext on 12 April
"Some said electromagnetic pollution was merely a green obsession.
Instead, the government decided yesterday it represents a real
problem. And no minister disagreed." Agriculture Minister [Alfonso]
Pecoraro Scanio said this talking about the Vatican Radio question.
He also announced that now it is the turn of the NATO radio in
Naples. "The paradox", said Pecoraro ironically, is that the NATO
antenna is on Vatican property, and they have already asked for it to
be removed "because it is bad for the nuns". This will "demonstrate
that we defend the clergy as well". Source: Rai TV teletext, Rome, in
Italian 1116 gmt 12 Apr 01 (via BBCM via DXLD)
Judges cordon off US Navy radio transmitters in Naples |
Excerpt from report by Italian radio on 13 April
The Vatican Radio problem: [Environment] Minister [Willer] Bordon,
after the government rejected his hard-line position, has spoken
again about the matter, complaining he had been left alone. In the
meantime, still on the subject of electromagnetic pollution, another
front was opened. Pierluigi Ferrari reports
[Reporter] Twelve radio antennae on the Camaldoli hill in Naples have
been cordoned off by the judges. One of these transmission sites
belongs to the US Navy, and broadcasts music for the American troops
based in the Mediterranean. This is what [Agriculture] Minister
[Alfonso] Pecoraro Scanio meant when he spoke about NATO antennae.
The US Navy [English in original] said they asked long ago for the
transmission site to be transferred elsewhere, without obtaining any
answer. The judges' decision was taken after measurements by the
Naples local authority revealed that electromagnetic emissions
figures were by far higher than those allowed by the law.
In the meantime, Environment Minister [Willer] Bordon has spoken
again about the Vatican Radio problem: I have been left alone, he
said, speaking about the deafening silence of the non-Catholic left
wing...
To comfort Bordon, opinion polls have been released suggesting the
Italians are afraid of electromagnetic waves, and that they are on
his side in the dispute with the Vatican.
Source: Rai Radio 1, Rome, in Italian 0600 gmt 13 Apr 01 (via BBCM
via DXLD)
U.S. Navy transmitters shut down in Italy over health concerns
The Associated Press 4/13/01 10:27 AM
NAPLES, Italy (AP) -- An Italian judge has pulled the plug on
broadcasts of two radio transmitters of the U.S. Navy, saying their
electromagnetic emissions pose a health threat.
Lt. Fred Kuebler, a spokesman for the U.S. Naval Support Activity,
said Friday that the transmitters of the American Forces Network were
shut down on March 30, along with 10 other transmitters belonging to
local Italian radio stations.
Earlier this week, the Italian environment minister had threatened to
take Vatican Radio off the air if it didn't comply with strict
Italian regulations governing electromagnetic emissions.
Vatican Radio said it would reduce its broadcasts beginning Monday
and was given until the end of the month to comply fully.
The decision over the U.S. transmitters came after tests ordered by
the Environment Ministry showed that the emissions were above Italian
standards.
Kuebler said the broadcasts were within the limits set in the
original agreement with the Italian Communications Ministry, which
allows higher levels of transmission than those set by the
Environment Ministry.
"We got caught in the middle," he said.
American Network Forces [sic], which provides U.S.-based radio
broadcasts to American troops in Europe, has appealed the decision. A
hearing is scheduled for April 18.
The U.S. antenna tower with the two transmitters is located on the
property of a 16th century monastery in Camaldoli, on the hills
overlooking Naples. There are at least 66 antennas on the hills,
according to a recent study by the town council.
Kuebler said that the American Forces Network has been trying to move
out of the area for a sesquiyear, but has yet to receive building
permits from Naples` town officials (AP via Mike Cooper, DXLD)
** LITHUANIA. I`m not hearing R. Vilnius, direct on 9875 in English
to North America at 0030; 9875 suffers heavy splash from Austria in
Spanish on 9870 (Bob Thomas, CT, April 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
Same here; no sign of R. Vilnius in the 0000-0100 hour April 13 on
9875. Wonder what has become of it? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
Aha! No wonder. RV English is at 2330 on 9875. It has slight co-
channel (Bob Thomas, CT, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
In past years they did NOT make such a DST shift. They could at least
have warned us. Now they no longer appear on the frequently updated
DTK schedule (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** MALAWI. MBC shortwave is off due to lack of spares. We need to
replace the expensive transmitter valves at US$20,000.00 and our
finances are currently in a bad shape. This per Joseph Chikagwa,
MBC`s Director of Engineering (DIRECT via Hans Johnson, Apr 12,
Cumbre DX via DXLD)
** MALAYSIA. 15295, Voice of Malaysia, April 10 at 0815 pop music
followed by Malay music. Male announcer on this day giving frequency
and schedules at 0827. Noted here fading in around this time most
days. Not as strong as Indonesia on 15125 or BBC Singapore on 15360
unfortunately. 23322 (David Riederer, NY, Cumbre DX via DXLD)
** NETHERLANDS ANTILLES. Digital Radio Mondiale
My colleague Jan-Peter Werkman will be writing an article dealing
with many of the questions about DRM that we have received recently.
Time constraints mean it`s not possible to compile individual
detailed answers, so Jan-Peter has decided to incorporate all the
information into a single article.
Incidentally, the regular test transmissions from Bonaire, originally
scheduled to commence on 2 April, have not yet started. There have
been some delays moving test equipment between different receiving
locations. The transmissions will begin as soon as everything is
hooked up and ready. Details are in our schedule at
http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/schedule.html
Best wishes and good listening till next week, (Andy Sennitt, Media
Network, Radio Netherlands April 13, via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD)
** PERÚ. Re Malm`s 5632.94, R. Cajabamba:
Cajabamba is the name of a province in the southeastern corner of
Cajamarca department. The capital of the province is also named
Cajabamba. The town may not be marked on many maps. The Peruvian
gazetteer gives the coordinates as 7 37 south & 78 02 west. Elevation
is 3654 meters, so it is well up in the Andes (Don Moore, IA, Cumbre
DX April 12 via DXLD)
** ROMANIA. RRI A-01 schedule in DXLD 1-046 showed ``13405`` for
Spanish at 0000, surely a typo. I thought maybe they meant 15405, but
must be 15340, bad here thanks to Martí 15330 splatter and something
on 15345: (gh)
SPANISH
0000-0056 15105 15340 17805 17815
0300-0356 11970 15365
1800-1856 15380 17745
2200-2256 15380 17805
(Observer, Bulgaria, April 10 via BC-DX via DXLD)
** SPAIN [non]. REE via Cariari, Costa Rica, 15170, was putting out
modulation peak spikes April 12 before and after 1200 around 15030-
15080, peaking 15055 or so, and would have been severe interference
to neighbor RPFI if it were on 15049 at the time, which it sometimes
is. Also audible around 15295, but much worse on the low side (Glenn
Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** TAIWAN [and non]. R. Taipei International A-01. W=WYFR Florida.
S=Skelton Merlin-UK.
English
0200-0300 5950W 9680W 11740W N&CAm; 11825 15270 SEAs
0300-0400 5950W 9680W NAm. 11745 EAs; 11825 SEAs
0700-0800 5950W NAm
1100-1200 7445 SEAs; MW 585.
1200-1300 7130 EAs; 9610 Au
1400-1500 15125 SEAs
1600-1800 11550 SAs
1800-1900 3955S Eu
2200-2300 11565W 15600W Eu
(Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, April 7, BC-DX via DXLD)
** TANNU TUVA. RUSSIA GTRK "Tuva" from Kyzyl (South of Central
Siberia) observed on SW 6100 from Apr 6. As usual for such regional
stns there is R Rossii relay during the day. I heard regional program
at 2210-2300 and 2310-2400 (first 10 mins are R Rossii nx). Bcing
langs are Russian and Vernacular (similar to Mongolian). But schedule
is irregular and in some days tx switches on at 2300 or even much
later. Interference is from Xinjiang in Chinese from 0000 and 1100.
I`m trying to find stn`s addr but it`s not easy (Vladimir Kovalenko,
Tomsk, Russia, Apr 12, BC-DX via DXLD)
** TUNISIA. Could that be RTT on 12005 in Arabic after 0200? QRMs UAE
at 0330 in English (Bob Thomas, CT, April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
Yes, that`s it (gh)
** U K. Checking further into BBCWS listings in April issue of BBC On
Air, more mistakes on Friday: Eu/NAf stream has Patterns of Faith at
1230 instead of 1245; Americas has Westway at both 1405 and 1430,
leaving us to wonder what really be on at 1405! At least the May
issue is already here April 13 --– that`s more like it, but I dread
what misinfo I will encounter there (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
** U K. BBC Radio 2, 3, 4, 5, picks for Sat, Sun, Mon, April 14-16:
SATURDAY
4 at 0930-1000 UT: 10:30am The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Future with
Douglas Adams: First in a four-part series which attempts to make
sense of the digital world. Technology affects almost everything we
do, and its possibilities can be both exhilarating and daunting.
Douglas Adams demystifies the way in which music can be accessed on
the internet, with help from Brian Eno and Michael Nesmith, among
others. Repeat
2 at 1600-1900 UT: 5:00pm Voices of the Century with Paul Gambaccini:
Paul Gambaccini continues a countdown of the top 100 popular music
singers of the 20th century, based on a chart compiled from votes
cast by listeners, a panel of singers and music experts and sales
information.
3 at 1700-1730: 6:00pm Jazz File: Downtown Avant-Garde -- the Music
of John Zorn: Steve Beresford presents a four-part series on virtuoso
jazz saxophonist John Zorn, who has been at the heart of the downtown
New York music scene for a quarter of a century. 2: `The Big
Gundown'. In the early 1980s Zorn paid homage to some of his musical
heroes, reinventing the work of Ennio Morricone, Sonny Clark and
Ornette Coleman. He developed his file-card technique of composition
with the pieces `Godard' and `Spillane', and joined the Nonesuch
record label.
3 at 1815-1850 UT: 7:15pm The Met Opera Quiz: Steven Blier puts
listeners` questions to Stephen A Brown, William Fulton and Brian
Zeger
4 at 1900-2000 UT: 8:00pm News; The Archive Hour: Children's Hour:
Michael Rosen explores the history of children's radio in the
English-speaking world, and finds that, for children in both
hemispheres, the world stopped at five when their own radio
programmes began.
5 at 1930-2000 UT: 8:30pm Five Live Report: John Sweeney uncovers
evidence of corruption in high places in Burma, the country which,
for the past ten years, has been the world's biggest supplier of
heroin. The ruling military junta claims to be winning the war
against narcotics, a view backed by the United Nations Drug Control
Programme. So why does Lo Hsing Han, the godfather of the Burmese
heroin trade, head a multinational company built on drug money and
play golf with the generals who run the country?
4 at 2115-2200 UT: 10:15pm The Reith Lectures 2001: The End of Age:
Thread of Life: This year's Reith Lectures tackle the topic of
ageing. From Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York, Prof Tom
Kirkwood gives a second lecture on how science is impacting on human
lifespan, asking if Bill Clinton's promise that Leo Blair would live
an extra 25 years was a sensible target. Repeat from Wednesday
SUNDAY:
3 at 1300-1400 UT: 2:00pm BBC Legends: Jacqueline du Pré: Hilary
Finch explores the legacy of Jacqueline du Pré in the BBC archive.
Including music from her first television broadcast, excerpts from a
1979 masterclass on the Elgar Cello Concerto, and a complete
performance of Dvorak's Cello Concerto in B minor, Op 104, with the
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Charles Groves.
2 at 1500-1530 UT: 4:00pm Ballroom Lives: Lionel Blair presents a
four-part series exploring the heyday of the ballroom. 3: The 1950s.
The romance of the ballroom re-emerged in the 50s, as dance bands
played the sensual cha-cha-cha for the traditionalists and rock 'n'
roll for the youngsters.
2 at 1530-1600 UT: 4:30pm Sing Something Simple: With the Cliff Adams
Singers accompanied by the Jack Emblow Quartet.
3 at 1645-1730 UT: 5:45pm The Sunday Feature: The Towns That Frank
Built: Susan Marling travels to Bilbao, Seattle and Los Angeles to
celebrate the work of the architect Frank Gehry, who talks about his
fifty years in the business and the late flowering of his career.
4 at 1900-1930 UT: 8:00pm News; A World in Your Ear: Emily Buchanan
presents highlights from English-language radio programmes from
around the world. Focusing on wildlife, she hears the sounds of
animals at close quarters in Alaska, and a Radio Netherlands report
on a hotel for bats. Previously broadcast Friday
3 at 1920-2050 UT: 8:20pm Choirworks: Paul Guinery introduces a
performance of Rachmaninov`s setting of the Orthodox rite, recorded
in Riga Cathedral, Latvia. The work is framed by two pieces recorded
at the Hudersfield Contemporary Music Festival last November - an
Easter motet by the Swedish composer Sven-David Sandström and a
transcription for unaccompanied voices of the final movement of
Messiaën's Quartet for the End of Time. Latvian Radio Choir/Sigvards
Klava. Sandström: Es ist genug. Rachmaninov: Liturgy of St John
Chrysostom. Messiaën: Louange à l'immortalité de Jésus.
MONDAY:
2 at 1100-1300 UT: 12:00pm Voices of the Century with Paul
Gambaccini: Paul Gambaccini concludes the countdown of the top 100
popular music singers of the 20th century.
3 at 1500-1600 UT: 4:00pm Opera in Action: Michael White assembles
his dream cast for Bernstein and Sondheim's groundbreaking
interpretation of the `Romeo and Juliet' story, including Kiri te
Kanawa, José Carreras, Marilyn Horne and members of the original film
cast.
2 at 1900-1930 UT: 8:00pm Big Band Special: Stacey Kent presents the
BBC Big Band conducted by Barry Forgie. They are joined by Zoot Money
on Hammond organ and vocals for a programme of R & B classics.
4 at 1930-2000 UT: 8:30pm Crossing Continents: In a special edition,
Olenka Frankiel visits Rwanda and Italy to investigate the difficult
case of 41 Rwandan children who were brought to Italy at the time of
the genocide seven years ago. All have been adopted by local
families, but all still have families in Rwanda. Italy says that they
are now Italians and won't be returned, so Rwanda is preparing a
legal case to get them back. Previously broadcast Thursday
4 at 2000-2030 UT: 9:00pm News; Solitude: Two-part programme looking
at people's experiences of being alone, either through choice or
necessity. 2: Isolation. Peter France explores the problems and
benefits of enforced solitude. He finds that, while it can bring pain
and despair, it can also bring insight, time to reflect and a deeper
self-knowledge. Second of two programmes, Repeat
(from BBC websites, chosen by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A [non?]. The new fq for AFRTS 13254 kHz is being heard here
in northern Europe too with rather good reception. Last check 10
April 1945-2015 UT. Does anybody know the QTH yet? (Torre Ekblom,
Esbo, Finland, April 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A [non]. DXLD in CIDX Messenger for Feb says there is a
mystery about the location of four transmitters used by HBS
(Christian Science). I can`t solve the mystery but I can give a bit
of info. These are included in the schedule of George Jacobs &
Associates, available on the internet. All four are operated by
Merlin. In the GJA schedule, Merlin also operates transmitters for
Affiliated Media Group in Jacksonville, Florida. The locations of
these transmitters too are not given.
So do not blame the US government or Herald Broadcasting for the
secrecy. Blame Merlin.
From the GJA schedule, I can give you the target areas of those four
Herald broadcasts:
1300-1400 India 7460
1200-1300 S China 5915
1200-1300 Indonesia 9880
1000-1100 N China 11870
(David Crystal, Israel, March 22?, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
David, would you please date your letters, as the postmark is not
always legible. In the meantime, we had the answers in DXLD 1-048,
but except for 11870 Taiwan, all the frequencies (and some of the
times) are now different. The GJA info you quote is outdated. They
are from the B-00 schedule, still the latest one posted at
http://www.gjainc.com Furthermore, even the powers and azimuths for
these HBS-via-Merlin are censored, to avoid giving such clues.
According to link format for B-00, the A-01 info should be found,
whenever they get around to posting it, at
http://www.gjainc.com/a01bystn.txt or
http://www.gjainc.com/a01byfre.txt
While there I took a look at his stations for sale page, and see that
WRNO is no longer listed, but WRMI still is, at the cut rate of
$650K. WVHA is still there, as having been sold, years ago now (Glenn
Hauser, April 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. 6889.0/AM WWFV McCaysville GA; 2351-0001+, 7/8-Apr;
Continuous chamber mx & similar tempo tunes--trying to punch up their
image? 2359 "Stay tuned for Dr. D.A. Wait right here on 6.890" (which
they weren`t) SIO=4+54+ (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE via DXLD)
** U S A. After an absence of a couple of years, Glenn Baxter, K1MAN,
of Belgrade Lakes, Maine, founder of the International Amateur Radio
Network and the American Amateur Radio Association (which he calls
"an alternative" to the ARRL), is about to return to the air. On his
newly redesigned web site http://www.k1man.com the following
appears:
"...We are now in the process of upgrading the Amateur Radio short
wave broadcasting facilities at our flagship station K1MAN. The
popular IARN Amateur Radio News and Call In Talk Show program is
currently scheduled to come back on the air on June 1, 2001. Callers
will then be given (during the show) the AARA and IARN 800 number to
encourage increased participation in our talk show. The non
copyrighted weekly show will also be posted on AARA`s web site in an
MP3 file for downloading and rebroadcasting on both HF and two meters
by any interested Radio Amateurs who wish to act as our affiliates.
No prior permission to do this is required.
"IARN Daily Bulletin Schedule: 3.975 MHz. LSB and 14.275 MHz. USB
simulcasting at 6 AM to 7:30; 9 AM to 10:30; 1 PM to 2:30; 5 PM to
6:30; and 8 PM to 11 PM. 3.890 MHz. High Fidelity Amplitute [sic]
Modulation at 7:30 AM to 9; 11:30 AM to 1 PM ; 6:30 P.M. to 8; 12
Midnight to 2:30 A.M. All times are Eastern Local Time."
K1MAN originally suspended his broadcasts after the FCC started
asking questions about his whereabouts during the times his programs
were airing (FCC regulations require a control operator, and none
appeared to be at the transmitter site). Baxter sued the FCC, but I
understand that the suit was dismissed by the federal courts in Maine
(John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A [non]. UMC`s R. Africa International has a one hour English
programme at 1700 with a repeat at 1800 on 13820, 15485 (Nick Sharpe,
UK, April World DX Club Contact via DXLD)
Had not noticed they were running the same programming twice in a
row. If that is the case it would make more sense to split it so
English and French are both heard in the morning and evening (gh,
DXLD)
** VATICAN/ITALY. [see also ITALY/USA]
Vatican Radio director "perplexed" by Italian government's actions |
Text of statement by Vatican Radio director of programmes Fr Federico
Lombardi, broadcast by Vatican Radio on 11 April
[Lombardi] Vatican Radio has already announced the reduction by 50
per cent of the time it broadcasts on mediumwave, from Easter Monday,
and naturally it will keep this commitment, which is another
important step in its concrete willingness to, above all, give those
who are worried the calm they deserve. We reiterate that the correct
forum for seeking solutions and the necessary decisions is the
bilateral commission [for Italy-Vatican relations], which represents
the Italian government as a whole, not a single ministry. We also
reiterate that for a correct procedure, and in order to find lasting
solutions, joint measurements are necessary - that is, measurements
carried out by Italian and Vatican experts together, measurements
agreed by the bilateral commission but not yet carried out, certainly
not because of a lack of willingness and readiness on our part, but
which can all the same be carried out very promptly. In conclusion,
we point out that the data from the unilateral tests by the
Environment Ministry were not communicated to us, and it is essential
to know exactly where and when they were carried out, both to
evaluate them in the light of a correct interpretation of Italian
law, as well as to contribute to an effective search for technical
solutions. The fact that this data, on the basis of which it is
intended to take extremely serious decisions, were released to the
press - and in conflicting versions, as well - but were not even
officially communicated to us for an informed technical discussion,
is a fact which leaves us very perplexed. Source: Vatican Radio,
Vatican City, in Italian 1200 gmt 11 Apr 01 (via BBCM via DXLD)
Italian cabinet split over Vatican Radio affair | Text of report in
English from Italian news agency ANSA web site
Rome, 11 April: Premier Giuliano Amato today suspended an ordinance
signed by his environment minister in the clearest demonstration yet
of the split within the cabinet over the Vatican Radio electrosmog
controversy.
Amato took the radical step after Environment Minister Willer Bordon
last night signed an ordinance threatening to close down the
Vatican`s radio network if it failed to reduce its electromagnetic
emissions by midnight on Monday [16 April].
Vatican Radio later issued a statement saying it took note of Amato`s
prompt action, which it said tried "to restore a single line" in the
Italian government`s position.
In the same statement, the network's director of programming, Father
Federico Lombardi, confirmed that Vatican Radio would stand by its
commitment to reduce mediumwave transmissions from Monday and to look
for a lasting solution to the controversy.
Bordon signed the contentious ordinance last night even though talks
between Italy and the Holy See yesterday produced a Vatican promise
to reduce electrosmog levels.
But because the Vatican had already agreed to cut its transmission
signals in any case, newspapers today interpreted the signing of the
ordinance by Bordon as muscle-flexing designed to make sure the radio
network kept its word.
Yesterday Bordon met Amato and Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini, who
were worried the environment minister's tough stance against the
Vatican could cause a political rupture in its relations with Italy.
As a result Bordon softened his stance noticeably today, saying he
would allow Vatican Radio an extra day to reduce its electromagnetic
emissions so that Easter programmes could go ahead as scheduled.
"Like many other people I too like to listen to the Pope`s words on
Easter Day and Easter Monday," Bordon said on the sidelines of a
conference on genetically modified organisms.
The minister said the request to shift the deadline had come from the
people of Cesano, the village north of Rome where Vatican Radio has
its powerful transmitter station, which beams programmes all around
the world.
People from Cesano and the nearby Santa Maria in Galeria have
protested recently about the levels of electrosmog from the Vatican
antennas, claiming their health is at risk.
A team of experts sponsored by both the Vatican and Italy recently
measured electromagnetism in the area and found it to be well over
legal limits in several areas.
The Italian bishops` daily Avvenire today criticised the Green
minister for his aggressive approach, saying he showed "more of a
vocation for propaganda than an aptitude for statesmanship." In a
further effort to calm tempers, Bordon also said he intended to push
for a special fund to help fund the technical changes that Vatican
Radio would now have to implement.
He said he was willing to cough up the first million lire himself.
There is considerable disagreement in scientific circles as to how
dangerous electrosmog is. Some experts say prolonged exposure to high
levels can contribute to setting off cancer, others say this is not
backed up by evidence.
Health Minister Umberto Veronesi, a renowned cancer expert, has said
that alarm over electrosmog is excessive and that it does not merit
being a priority in government campaigns to improve the nation`s
health.
Source: ANSA news agency web site, Rome, in English 1646 gmt 11 Apr
01 (via BBCM via DXLD)
Foreign Minister praises diplomatic approach to Vatican Radio issue |
Text of report in English from Italian news agency ANSA web site
Rome, 12 April: Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini today lauded
the government`s decision to soften the tones of a dispute with the
Holy See over allegedly dangerous electromagnetic emissions from its
radio network outside Rome.
"I strongly approve of the cabinet's decisions concerning Vatican
Radio emissions," said Dini, referring to Premier Giuliano Amato's
surprise move yesterday in which he blocked a tough Environment
Ministry ultimatum to the Vatican.
Environment Minister Willer Bordon issued an ordinance on Tuesday
night [10 April] telling the Vatican that electricity supply to the
radio towers in Cesano to the north of Rome would be cut on Monday
[16 April] unless the illegal emissions were reduced, sparking
outrage in some Vatican quarters.
But Dini stressed today that dialogue and diplomacy were essential in
Italo-Vatican relations.
"The need to respect Italian laws has been accompanied by awareness
that we must proceed through dialogue in order to reach mutually
acceptable solutions, a line which respects the international accords
governing relations between Italy and the Holy See," the minister
said.
He pointed out that talks on Tuesday between Italy and the Vatican
had resulted in a pledge from the Holy See to reduce the emissions
starting from Monday.
"That confirmed the Vatican's willingness to conform to the norms and
demonstrated the validity of bilateral negotiating methods," Dini
said.
He also emphasised that the cabinet was no longer split on the issue.
"The cabinet as a whole now backs this position," he said, adding
that all had agreed on 30 April as the deadline for "definitively
reduced" emissions.
Equal Opportunities Minister Katia Bellillo, a member of the Italian
Communists party, later made the same point as Dini, saying that "a
diplomatic approach has been adopted. One cannot wage war against
other states, in this case the Vatican." Bordon later criticised
left-wing and environmental groups for failing to support him, saying
that the "lay left" had been "deafeningly silent" on the issue and
asking "where were the environmentalists when they were needed?" But
he also played down the cabinet split, saying that the government had
shown that it shared his concerns and was considering moving the
broadcasting towers.
The Environment Ministry has released data according to which Vatican
Radio emission levels are at least seven times over the Italian legal
limit and magistrates are investigating whether a clutch of leukemia
cases in Cesano could be linked to electromagnetic pollution, known
in Italy as "electrosmog".
Meanwhile, the head of the environmental group Legambiente, Ermete
Realacci, today blasted Health Minister and renowned oncologist
Umberto Veronesi, who has said that alarm over electrosmog is
excessive and that it does not merit being a priority in government
campaigns to improve the nation`s health.
Realacci argued that the "principle of precaution" should be applied
until the results of definitive research are available.
Agriculture Minister Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio also weighed into the
debate, saying that emissions from NATO's military radio network in
Naples could be dangerously high as well.
"I think the next step will be to tell NATO to quit releasing an
enormous quantity of electrosmog into the atmosphere in Naples," he
said. [see ITALY/USA above]
According to the results of a Web-based survey of 1,000 Italians, 84
per cent believe that their health could be endangered by city
antennas and transmitters.
On 14 February Italy became one of the first countries in the world
to adopt legislation aimed at protecting its population from
electromagnetic pollution.
According to the Wall Street Journal Europe, the regulations are very
strict, capping emissions at 20 times lower than internationally
accepted guidelines on electromagnetic radiation.
At least 200,000 Italians are thought to be regularly exposed to
emissions from electromagnetic fields at a level which could
adversely affect their health.
Source: ANSA news agency web site, Rome, in English 1532 gmt 12 Apr
01 (via BBCM via DXLD)
Italy defers to higher power, reaches uneasy truce with Vatican Radio
From:
http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=13664
By freedomforum.org staff 12 April 01
Antennas of Vatican Radio in Santa Maria di Galeria on the outskirts
of Rome. Italy has deferred to a higher power and negotiated an
uneasy truce with the Vatican in the running battle over
electromagnetic radiation from the Vatican`s radio station.
In a compromise with its previously uncompromising position, the
Italian government has now given Vatican Radio until the end of April
to negotiate a reduction in electromagnetic emissions, according to
reports by the BBC and the Associated Press.
Vatican Radio, which had been threatened with a shutdown, said it was
satisfied with the decision. The announcement came after a five-hour
meeting of government ministers.
Residents near the Vatican's transmission center claim that excessive
electromagnetic levels -- dubbed electrosmog by the Italian media --
have caused an unusually high number of cases of leukemia in the
area.
The Italian Environment Minister, Willer Bordon, had threatened to
cut off electricity to Vatican Radio next week if it did not
dramatically reduce its emissions to bring it in line with Italy's
strict laws on radiation. But Prime Minister Giuliano Amato overruled
Bordon, raising speculation about a damaging cabinet split.
Health Minister Umberto Veronesi, an eminent cancer specialist in
private life, further muddied the waters by questioning the relation
between electrosmog and an increase in cancer.
The cabinet`s decision, which forces the Vatican to comply with
regulations but gives it more time to do so, is seen as a compromise
between these divergent opinions (via Mike Terry, hard-core-dx via
DXLD)
** VIETNAM. 13637.20 VOV-DS Mar 03 at 1405 (Gaku Iwata, Japan, Japan
Premium Apr 8, via BC-DX via DXLD)
** YEMEN. I don`t hear R. Sana`a on 9780 for English at 1800-1900 or
0600-0700. Either changed, or poor prop my way? (Bob Thomas, CT,
April 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
INTERNATIONAL MARCONI DAY
DX Information from the British DX Club (BDXC-UK). From:
http://www.rsgb.org/news/ International Marconi Day is next Saturday,
the 21st of April. A number of special event stations will be on the
air from sites associated with Marconi and his radio experiments at
the beginning of the 20th century. The event is organised by the
Cornish Radio Amateurs Club and further details can be found on the
International Marconi Day web site
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/%7Estraff/ or from Robin, G0MYR, on
01209 820 118 (via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ###